Bolivia is turning a new page in its history, and the world is watching with a mix of curiosity and caution. On November 13, 2025, the country’s Interior Minister, Marco Antonio Oviedo, announced a move that would have seemed unthinkable just a few years ago: the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will resume operations in Bolivia, marking its return after a 17-year absence. The agency was expelled in 2008 by then-president Evo Morales, who also severed ties with the U.S. embassy. Now, with the inauguration of President Rodrigo Paz, Bolivia is signaling a dramatic shift—not just in foreign policy, but in its approach to organized crime, economic development, and international cooperation.
Oviedo, speaking at an official event, made the government’s intentions clear. “We will have the collaboration of several international agencies, including, of course, the DEA. Because drug trafficking and terrorism are not the problem of a single nation,” he said, according to El País. This collaboration is part of a broader effort to combat the surge in violence linked to organized crime, which has gripped the nation in recent years. The move also coincides with the reopening of diplomatic relations between Bolivia and the United States following Paz’s rise to power.
The DEA’s return is not just symbolic. According to Vice Minister of Controlled Substances, Ernesto Justiniano, the agency’s presence will be established “as soon as possible.” He explained, “Without the DEA, we fell behind in the fight, battling blindfolded. The problem with drug trafficking in Bolivia is that large quantities of cocaine are produced, but we don’t know how much and which organizations control it.” Justiniano emphasized that U.S. support would be technological, logistical, and training-related, rather than simply boots on the ground. The hope is that this renewed partnership will give Bolivian authorities the tools they need to tackle the country’s sprawling narcotics trade.
But not everyone is on board with the decision—especially in the Chapare region, a lush, tropical area that has long been the epicenter of Bolivia’s coca production. Chapare is also a political stronghold of Evo Morales, who remains a powerful figure in Bolivian politics. The region’s coca growers, who have vivid memories of the DEA’s last stint in Bolivia, have already made their opposition known. Forced eradication of coca fields, often carried out under armed guard, led to violent clashes in the past, leaving around 20 people dead. These tensions are still fresh for many in the community.
At a press conference, coca growers’ leader Aquilardo Caricari didn’t mince words: “We are emphatic: we will not allow the establishment of any military base in the Cochabamba Tropics. If they want to bring the DEA back, let them place it at the border, where international trafficking supposedly occurs.” Morales himself echoed this sentiment on social media, writing, “The Chapare region already has 13 military units [...] As our Constitution dictates, the military must not take orders from foreigners nor allow them to operate in our territory.”
The friction between the old guard and the new administration is palpable. Morales has been openly critical of President Paz from day one, accusing him of failing to deliver on campaign promises—most notably, resolving the country’s chronic fuel shortages. He also took aim at what he described as a rift between Paz and Vice President Edman Lara. During the campaign, Lara had assured voters that Chapare’s coca would be “respected” and that DEA intervention was unnecessary. Oviedo, however, brushed off Morales’s criticisms, saying, “Evo cannot imagine life without being president [...] He is psychologically affected, which is why he has tried to destabilize from day one.” Even more pointedly, President Paz’s father and former president, Jaime Paz, claimed that Morales “is seeking to be assassinated.”
Morales, undeterred by the government’s rhetoric, has used these tensions to rally his base. On Thursday, he relaunched his nascent party, Evo Pueblo, urging supporters to “repeat” the level of backing he claims to have secured in the first round of the presidential election on August 17, when he promoted a null vote—a protest that reached around 20%, compared to the historic average of just 5%. For Morales and his followers, the DEA’s return is a stark reminder of a painful past and a call to resistance.
Meanwhile, Minister Oviedo is looking to the future, announcing plans to replace coca cultivation in Chapare with other economic activities. “We need to promote more attractive programs for our fellow citizens. Why not develop skills in hospitality? It’s a touristically attractive area,” he suggested, as reported by El País. The idea isn’t entirely new; it echoes earlier efforts to eradicate coca fields with financial compensation. But those programs largely failed, as no other crop or activity proved as profitable as coca, which can be harvested up to four times a year. Still, the government seems determined to try again, banking on international support and a fresh approach.
The political and social stakes are high, but there’s also a significant economic dimension to these changes. On November 14, 2025, Credicorp Ltd’s CEO Gianfranco Ferrari voiced optimism about the prospects for Bolivia’s banking sector in the wake of President Paz’s inauguration, which ended two decades of socialist rule. “Even though it’s very early for the new government, the initial decisions they’ve made are giving very positive signaling,” Ferrari said during an earnings call, as reported by Bloomberg. “I’ve been seeing it as a value option for us, and the option may become quite relevant going forward. We’re positive on what can happen in Bolivia as a country.”
Ferrari’s remarks highlight a broader sense of hope among business leaders and investors, who see the new administration’s early moves as a sign that Bolivia may finally be open for business. The restoration of U.S. cooperation, particularly in areas like law enforcement and economic reform, is seen as a step toward greater stability and growth. Still, it’s early days, and the road ahead is anything but straightforward. The challenge will be balancing the need for security, economic opportunity, and respect for local communities—especially those who feel left behind or threatened by these sweeping changes.
As Bolivia embarks on this new chapter, the eyes of the world—and of its own people—are fixed on what comes next. The return of the DEA, the push for economic diversification, and the promise of renewed international engagement all offer a glimpse of a different future. Whether these efforts will lead to lasting peace, prosperity, and reconciliation remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Bolivia is no longer content to stand still.
